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Gas Free NYC Bill Introduced
in the New York City Council

We worked with New York Communities for Change, New York Public Interest Research Group, and others along with co-prime sponsor New York City Council Member Alicka Ampry-Samuel to get Gas Free NYC introduced in the New York City Council yesterday. This bill, Intro 2317, will phase out the use of natural gas in new construction in New York City. This is an important step in addressing climate change, and in meeting the emissions reduction goals set by Local Law 97. And here’s why it is an environmental justice issue:

“This bill will help reduce air pollution and emissions that contribute to climate change, which will help address health disparities experienced by people of color,” explained Peggy Shepard, Co-Founder and Executive Director at WE ACT for Environmental Justice. “A recent study ([link removed]) found that communities of color in the city are exposed to 17 percent more PM[2.5] emissions associated with residential gas combustion than the population average, with Blacks facing 32 percent higher exposure. The health impacts of this disproportionate exposure can be seen in the higher rates of mortality and morbidity in these communities – our communities – including chronic respiratory diseases like asthma.”

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has already said that he is in favor of such legislation, so all we need now is to make sure it gets passed by the City Council so he can sign it into law. Read Our Joint Announcement ([link removed]) (PDF)

TAKE ACTION
Want to help? Your outreach helped us get the bill introduced, so now we'd like your help in getting it passed. Contact your City Council member (this might help if you don’t know who your council member is ([link removed]) ) and ask them to support Intro 2317. And while you are at it, feel free to give Speaker Corey Johnson’s office a call at 888-431-7599 and ask him to sponsor the bill!

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Ranked Choice Voting:
What You Need to Know
to Vote on June 22

Join us, the New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, and the League of Women Voters NYC at 12:00 PM EDT on Thursday, June 3 for a webinar on New York City’s newly adopted Ranked Choice Voting system. Learn how it works so you will be better prepared to vote ([link removed]) in the primary on June 22. RSVP ([link removed])

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New York City Public Advocate Candidates Forum

Join us for a special candidates forum with children and parents from the Harlem Village Academy as we get to know the candidates running for New York City Public Advocate. The forum will start at 1:00 PM EDT on Thursday, June 3. We will be joined by Arax Lefevre and her 6th-grade Social Studies class – both the students and their parents – to ask the candidates questions. This event is in partnership with our 501(c)(4), WE ACT 4 Change. RSVP ([link removed])

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Our Second New York City
Mayoral Candidates Forum

Join us for the second of our New York City Mayoral Candidates Forums at 10:00 AM EDT on Saturday, June 5. We will be hosting several mayoral candidates, including Dianne Morales and Scott Stringer, each of whom will be given 40 minutes to tell us why they are the best candidate and how they will tackle environmental racism in our community. Attendees will also have an opportunity to ask them questions. This event is in partnership with our 501(c)(4), WE ACT 4 Change. RSVP ([link removed])

More Candidate Forums:

Our June Membership Meeting at 10:00 AM ET on Saturday, June 12 will feature a candidates forum for Manhattan District Attorney. RSVP ([link removed])

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Watch Our First New York City
Mayoral Candidates Forum

In case you missed our first Mayoral Candidates Forum on May 24, you can watch the video replay featuring candidates Shaun Donovan and Maya Wiley. This event was in partnership with our 501(c)(4), WE ACT 4 Change. Watch the Video ([link removed])

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Watch Our Comptroller Candidates Forum

In case you missed our New York City Comptroller Candidates Forum on May 20, you can watch the video replay with candidates Brian Benjamin, Zach Iscol, Brad Lander, Kevin Parker, Reshma Patel, and David Weprin. This event was in partnership with our 501(c)(4), WE ACT 4 Change. Watch the Video ([link removed])

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Vaccinating Children

Children 12 years and older are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. To answer questions you may have about vaccinating your children, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have shared a COVID-19 Vaccines for Preteens and Teens ([link removed]) (PDF) fact sheet with information on safety, possible side effects, and tips on what to do before, during, and after your child’s vaccination. Additional resources are listed in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Parents of Adolescents
([link removed]) toolkit (also available in Spanish ([link removed]) ).

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